The Veterinary Technology Blog

About three million cats and three million dogs go into U.S. shelters each year; however, 71 percent of these cats are euthanized as opposed to 56 percent of dogs. This amounts to the euthanization of about 850,000 cats annually.

Explore similarities and differences between veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians to determine if either of these careers is right for you. View our side-by-side comparison chart before making a final decision.

Although the number of euthanized dogs has declined since 2011, due in part to an increase in pet adoption as well as an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners, close to 400,00 dogs are still euthanized each year in US shelters.

Overpopulation is the main driver behind early spay-neuter programs which, over the past 30 years, have become routine throughout the United States. In fact, since the 1970s, the “ultra-early” neutering of puppies and kittens has been the custom in many veterinarian offices due to the abundance of feral and abandoned animals being euthanized in shelters.

In the following interview, integrative veterinarian Dr. Richard Palmquist generously spoke to us about his journey to holistic practice and what his work entails, as well as what pet owners should know about holistic vet care and advice for aspiring veterinary professionals.

As in human health, medical expenses for pets can be costly and come at the most inopportune times. The is when pet health insurance may help ease the burden of caring for a pet and make prioritizing a pet’s health and wellbeing more financially feasible.

August is Pet Immunizations awareness month and what better time to benefit from the knowledge of a veterinary medical professional with over 50 years of experience. World-renowned veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds graciously lent her expertise in the following interview on pet immunizations.

Think you know about the many different types of animal care technicians? Yes, they can work in kennels and animal shelters, but they can also work in research labs, helping to provide care and assistance in a variety of a ways. For folks who like the idea of bringing care and compassion to the laboratory animals who help humans to advance biomedical and pharmaceutical understanding, a career as an animal laboratory technician may be a meaningful and satisfying path.

How much do vet techs have the potential to earn? The answer to this question varies depending on factors like geography, experience, industry, role, and more. Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of vet tech annual salaries and hourly wages in the United States.

Care of domestic animals varies from general day-to-day maintenance to acute care in times of illness and injury. Common sense in attending to pets’ needs goes a long way. We feed, walk, pet, and groom our animal charges with love and devotion. However, important aspects of our animals’ wellbeing can go unnoticed, and therefore unattended to, simply for lack of knowledge.

Accredited vet tech programs that prepare students to get their vet tech licenses are available both online and all over the United States. However, it’s often the case that prospective vet techs want to find something close to home - or something in a specific and exciting new region. Northern California is home to San Francisco, the Muir Woods, Yosemite, hundreds of miles of oceanic coastlines, and more. For those wishing to experience all that Northern California has to offer while training to enter the veterinary field as a tech,...

In addition to the burgeoning of spring and new life, April honors our animal friends with Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The annual 30-day campaign is hosted by the American Society of the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA) and offers opportunities for the public to become involved in safeguarding the wellbeing of animals. Two experts generously offered their knowledge on the topic of preventing animal cruelty: the executive director of the HSVMA, Pam Runquist, and Laura Link, public information manager of the Oregon Humane Society.

A study from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that meat consumed by cats and dogs is equivalent to 64 million tons of carbon dioxide—the same amount of carbon dioxide produced by almost 14 million cars in one year. For a Toyota Prius owner who eats mostly a plant-based diet and has cats and dogs, this may seem like a huge setback in the intention to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The results from this study have eco-conscious pet owners wondering: is it possible to provide for my pet’s...

In December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim March 3 the international day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, World Wildlife Day. In honor of the annual day of awareness, we are highlighting one of the major ways that wildlife is affected in the U.S.—roadways—and diving into how individuals can promote the wellness of their local wildlife.

Along with being enrolled in an accredited veterinary technology program, it is equally important for veterinary assistants and technicians to have adequate hands-on experience with animals. Many internship and externship programs let students spend some time in specialized departments such as radiology, hematology, oncology, cardiology, and surgery.